Recent Articlesfrom the Blog

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Every drummer has to start somewhere, and every experienced drummer remembers what it was like to be a beginner. In our Drummers Stick Together series, veteran drummers share their personal stories of learning drums, developing their craft, and following their dreams!
George Beck is a touring drummer and drum teacher. He played with his first band when he was 14, and he is now the drummer for Philadelphia-based singer/songwriter Katie Barbato and Dirty Holiday. George, a.k.a Beckbeat, rec …
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Drummers Stick Together: Pursuing Your Passion With George Beck

Every drummer has to start somewhere, and every experienced drummer remembers what it was like to be a beginner. In our Drummers Stick Together series, veteran drummers share their personal stories of learning drums, developing their craft, and following their dreams!
George Beck is a touring drummer and drum teacher. He played with his first band when he was 14, and he is now the drummer for Philadelphia-based singer/songwriter Katie Barbato and Dirty Holiday. George, a.k.a Beckbeat, rec

Are You Making the Most of Your Violin Practice?

Gifted musicians don't appear from nowhere fully-formed and ready to take to the concert platform. For every 45-minute concerto or 90-minute recital you hear, hours of hard work have gone into every note, every phrase, and even how the music is approached, learned, and memorized!
It may seem strange to say that proper practice is the most nerve-wracking element of mastering your violin, but if you don't know how to structure the session, how can you ever be sure that you're working on the righ

5 Outside Lands Acts You Won't Want to Miss

Do you love food, wine, art, and awesome music? San Franciscos Outside Lands Music Festival is just the ticket for a can't-miss summer experience in the Bay Area. With the 2014 festival coming up August 8-10, here are five acts you cant miss in this years lineup:
Imelda May
If you're tired of the Top 40 pop princesses of today, Irish-born Imelda May's rockabilly sound may be just the spice you need to refresh your spirit and get your feet moving. Her 1950s-esque style might seem a bit r

Making Practice FUN - 2 Ways to Spice Things Up

Is practicing your instrument becoming more of a chore than an enjoyable pastime? Check out these tips from Hayward, CA and online teacher Molly R. for making practice fun and getting out of the rut:
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Sometimes as students and teachers, we lose sight of some pretty important things in music making: personality and plain FUN!
Sure, there may be a handful of musicians out there that wow with their impeccable technique. But is that really enough? Think of yourself as an audience

Top 5 Instructional Violin Books for Kids

Do you need to purchase a violin book for your child, but you're not sure where to start? Below, violin teacher Julie P. shares her top five violin books for kids...
There is an unbelievably large amount of music books available to kids who want to learn the violin. While there are many great options to choose from, sifting through all of them to find the best one can be daunting.
Most students start with a method book, but activity and solo books can be great supplemental materials to